No VAT on your electricity from 1 October
Home electricity goes VAT-free from 1 October, Octopus announces its own batteries for 2027, EDF holds its 15p export rate, and Lidl cuts rapid charging to 59p.
Solar, battery and EV news for Fife homes
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0%
VAT on home electricity
No VAT on your electricity from 1 October
From 1 October to 31 March there's no VAT on home electricity, down from 5%. Gas isn't included. HMRC confirmed the details this week, and suppliers apply it automatically, even on fixed deals. The government puts the average saving at about £45.
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2027
On sale
Octopus is making its own home batteries
Its new Nook range includes a 2 kWh battery that plugs into a normal socket, for flats and renters, and stacks up to 10.5 kWh. A wall-mounted model stacks to 30 kWh. Both come with 12-year warranties, but neither goes on sale until 2027.
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15p
EDF export rate
EDF still pays 15p for your solar export
Octopus cut its flat Outgoing Fixed rate from 15p to 12p in March, and Flux is still closed to new customers. EDF's Export 12m pays 15p a unit, but only if EDF also supplies your electricity. If you're earning less, it's worth comparing.
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59p
Lidl Plus rapid charging
Lidl cuts rapid charging to 59p a unit
Lidl Plus members now pay 59p per kWh at Lidl rapid chargers, down from 62p. Without the app it's 74p, against a market average of around 80p. Charging at home on an off-peak tariff is still far cheaper.
From us at Dual Electrical Services
There’s still no general grant or loan for solar panels or batteries in Scotland. Home Energy Scotland stopped funding them in June 2024. The main saving left is 0% VAT on new installs, which ends on 31 March 2027. If you’re thinking about solar, a battery or an EV charger, get in touch.
Correction, 21 September 2026. Two things above were out of date when we sent this issue. EDF’s Export 12m tariff had already closed on 2 March 2026: EDF now pays 13p a unit to its own electricity customers, or 18p if EDF supplied your system. Octopus Flux had also reopened to new customers, so only Intelligent Octopus Flux is still paused.
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